NEW SUPPORT PROGRAMS FROM UMT IN 2026
SEÇER: “WE WILL DELIVER 535 VEHICLES TO 401 MUNICIPALITIES”
ANKARA –
The Union of Municipalities of Turkiye (UMT) held a Vehicle Delivery Ceremony at the Çankaya Municipality Campus with the participation of UMT Vice President and Mayor of Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Vahap Seçer.
As part of the grant program, which took into account the socio-economic status, land area, population, needs, and demands of municipalities, 115 service vehicles were donated to 114 municipalities affiliated with the Republican People's Party, the Justice and Development Party, the Nationalist Movement Party, the DEM Party, the Great Unity Party, the Democrat Party, the Felicity Party, and the New Welfare Party.
The vehicles delivered at the ceremony included 18 fire trucks, 42 garbage trucks, 40 dump trucks, 5 water tankers, 6 sewage trucks, 2 combined sewer cleaning vehicles, and 2 street sweepers.
During the event in Ankara, UMT President Vahap Seçer made key statements regarding both vehicle support to be delivered by the end of 2025 and new support programs set to launch in 2026.
“We Will Deliver 535 Vehicles to 401 Municipalities”
In his opening speech, Seçer recalled the ongoing vehicle support efforts:
“Today, we are distributing 115 vehicles and construction machines to 114 municipalities. A similar ceremony was held last month. To date, we have delivered 349 vehicles to 287 municipalities. By the end of 2025, we plan to distribute approximately 70 more vehicles. Thus, we will have delivered a total of 535 vehicles to 401 municipalities,” he stated.
New Support Programs in 2026
Referring to the 2026 budget and performance program, Seçer shared the outcomes of the UMT Executive Committee Meeting held prior to the ceremony. He announced that the 2026 fiscal budget and performance program will be discussed at the UMT General Assembly on October 20, stating:
“Starting next year, in addition to vehicle and machinery support, we will also provide financial support for new projects. For example, we will allocate funding for drilling operations in water-scarce regions and investments in women’s shelters.”
Seçer noted a projected 200% increase in the 2026 budget for such support programs, emphasizing that UMT delivers services to all municipalities without discrimination and based on the principle of justice.
He also shared expectations from mayors, underlining the importance of participating in UMT’s training sessions:
“The more knowledgeable and competent our civil servants are, the more efficiently and satisfactorily our municipalities will serve,” he said. He called for strong participation in data collection and surveys at national, regional, and local levels and highlighted the importance of having the most qualified representatives attend project workshops, commission meetings, and conferences aimed at solving local issues.
“The Religion of the State is Justice”
In a key part of his speech, Seçer emphasized the concept of justice. Recalling his recent visit to Silivri Prison alongside UMT President and Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar, Seçer stated:
“I bring greetings from our mayors.”
He also shared his views on freedom and the rule of law:
“Nothing is more valuable than a person’s freedom. The religion of the state is justice. We are all equal before the law. The presumption of innocence is the cornerstone of the rule of law. Until proven guilty, no one should be treated as a criminal. Long periods of pre-trial detention are a violation of freedom.”
Criticizing the recent operation targeting the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, Seçer added:
“Despite previous inspector reports finding no public loss, early morning detentions damage the reputation of municipalities. This is an assassination of reputation.”
“Your Success is Our Success”
Concluding his speech by thanking the mayors on the occasion of the vehicle handover, Seçer said:
“In the coming years, we will continue to serve our citizens in unity and solidarity. Your success is the success of our union. I wish these new vehicles to be of great benefit in your services.”